Structural frame unit for mounting decorative strips



Dec. 25, 1951 A. MARCHAND 2,579,943

STRUCTURAL FRAME UNIT FOR MOUNTING DECCRATIVE STRIPS Filed Sept. l, 1950 Patented Dec. 25, 1951 STRUCTURAL FRAME UNIT FOR MOUNTING DECORATIVE STRIPS Adolph Marchand, Jackson Heights, N. Y. Application September 1, 1950, Serial No. 182,681

Claims.

This invention relates to structural frame units for mounting glass or other decorative strips. In particular, structural frame units in accordance with the present invention are adapted to be imbedded within the surfaces of interior building Walls and arranged in endeto-end relationship so as to form decorative door frames, wall moldings, and other ornamental effects.

Each of the structural unitsof the present in vention comprises a longitudinal member adapted to be imbedded in or otherwise secured to a wall throughout its rear portion, the front portion of the longitudinal member being planar so as to abut against the flat rear surface of a glass panel or other decorative strip. The strip is securely held to the longitudinal member by means of an abutment flange extending along one edge of the latter and adapted to grip one edge of the strip and a plurality of clamping elements adapted to grip the opposite edge of the strip and spring biased toward the abutment flange so as to clamp the strip therebetween. The frame units are so constructed that the decorative strips may be quickly and easily removed therefrom for replacement or washing. Furthermore, the structural frame units are adapted to mount decorative strips having marginal configurations of varied types and shapes. This latter advantageous feature is made possible both by the spring biased laterally-slidable mounting arrangement for the clamping elements and also due to the fact that the clamping elements are slidable longitudinally of the structural unit member.

The invention further resides in the various details of construction which provide an economical, effective and durable means for mounting decorative strips. Other objects and advantages of the invention are inherent in the structure as claimed and disclosed and will appear as the description proceeds in more detail.

It is to be understood that the particular embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing and described hereinbelow is intended to be merely illustrative of one of the many forms which the invention may take in practice without departing from the scope of the invention as delineated in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view showing a plurality of structural frame units utilized as a door frame for mounting decorative glass strips of an intricate marginal conguration around the mar gin of the door opening;

'FigZ is an elevational View similar to Fig. l.

but showing decorative glass stripsV of a simple design having rectilinear marginal edges Fig. 3 is a sectional perspective view of a structural frame unit together with a straight-edged strip, somewhat longitudinally displaced vwith respect to the frame unit, so as to illustrate the details of construction;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail view showing a clamping element moved laterally outwardly against the action of the spring so as to be clear of the adjacent edge of the decorative strip, thereby enabling the latter to be disassembled from the frame unit;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail view of the longitudinal edge of the structural frame unit opposite the edge having the clamping elements and showing the fixed abutment flange adapted to grip one longitudinal edge of the decorative strip;

Fig. 'I is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 2 and is partially broken away to show the spring which biases the clamping elements laterally inwardly; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of one of the clamping elements.

Each of the structural frame units embodying the present invention comprises a longitudinal channel-shaped member I I having a planar rear section I 2 formed integral with two forwardly extending side walls I3, I4. A first flange section I5 is formed integral with the side wall I3 and a second flange section I6 is similarly formed on the side wall I4. The flange sections I5, I6 extend laterally inwardly toward each other and in parallel spacedrelation with respect to the rear planar section I2.

An inner longitudinal channel member I'I` extends within the outer channel member II and comprises a planar section I8 lying against and slidable with respect to the planar section I2. Along one longitudinal edge of the planar section I8 there is formed a forwardly extending side wall I9 rand another forwardly extending side wall 2B is formed integral with and along the opposite longitudinal edge. As best seen in F-ig. 6, the forward edge of the side wall I9 is provided with a flange section 2| slidable against the rear surface of the flange section I6 of the outer channel I I. Referring now to Fig. 5i, it will be seen that the side wall 20 is also provided with a laterally extending flange section `22 slidable l against the rear surface of the angesection I5 0f the outerV channel member I I. Theinner edge 3 of the ange section 22 is provided with a rearwardly extending portion 23 for a purpose to be described below.

It will be noted that the inner longitudinal channel member H is of a smaller width than the outer channel member II, whereby the inner channel -member I'l'is slidable within and laterally of the outer channel member II. As best seen iniFigs. 51'and '1,' a sinuousfleaf' spring 24 extendsthroughout. vthe space between vthe .side

wall I3 of the outer longitudinal channel mem-V ber Il and the side wall 20 of the inner channel member l1 and is secured .totheside wall i3 by Vany suitable securing meansasat-25....;.Spring 24 presses against the side walls I3, 20 so'as to bias the inner channel VmemberfII laterally within the vouter channel member II toward the side wall I4 Vof the latter. The'side'wall I 4 has 'secured thereto by means of screws 26 an abutment flange 21 extending forwardly of the flange sec- .tion I6 .andthen inwardlyasat. 28 .in parallel spaced relations/ith .respectfth'e'reto.V

.Referring now toiFig. 8, eachfof "theY clamping elements, designatedrgenerally by. theY reference numeral 29 vcomprises-a Yflat Abody Y portion "3@ adapted. tolle against the forward surfaceof the flange section I5. 'The inner Aend vof'the body portion .Sais tannedV rearwardly as at 3|;1then laterally outwardly as fat'32, vthen forwardly as at. 33, and then laterally outwardly as at 34. Referring .to'Fig'. 5,it willbe seen 'that'.the portions 3| [32 and 33 form ai U-shaped channelmembenadapted to receive the rearwardly extending portion23 .of .the'fflange section'22. The later- 'ally extending portion'll ofthe clamping ele.- ment .r2abutsvagainst and isi slidable. vwith .respect. tothe rear surfacecf vthe flange section 22.v It -will thus .be seen that the'. clamping .elements 29 .are slidable forA adjustment longitudinallyof. the. channelmembers' I I; I1. vThe outer end of the body portion`3) of eaclrofgthe'clamping rrelements` 29 is provided with a5 forwardly extending portion'i adaptedtosabut against the edge IS.y ofa decorativeglassstrip'JSji The forward edge of the portion'36 has'integral therewith an angularly extending portionl'l. adapted to abut against the bevelled face S A adjacent the edge S'. of the strip S.

i. `The manner of mounting and jdismounting' the decorative strip S with respect to the' structural frame unit lwill new. be described. j Whenthe strip is toV be assembled, the .rearwardly extending .portion 23 of the inner longitudinalzmember I1 is pressed ylaterally outwardly sof-fas to slidelthe innermember Il and hencelalsoi thelclamping elements29. laterally in a direction awayfrom the abutment liange 21 Theedge'S. andbevelled surface'S* of the decorativestrip-'S is then placed in rengagement with the portions '36, i3? of the-.clamping elements 2e a'ndlthe stripS. is, then pivoted rearwardlyso as to lie flat against theforward surfaces ,of 'the flange sections-I5, I6" of theY outer member II. Uponreleasing the strip S; the leaf spring 24 willreactagainst the side walls [3,5 2B so .as to move the inner longi-` tudinal member I? and hence also the clamping elementsf29 laterally inwardly towardthe abutment'flange'21,`thereby also sliding the Vadjacent edgeLof. the .strip S beneaththe inturned portion 2810i theange 2l', as .bestY seen in Fig. LijThe decorative` glass `strip' S .will then .be securely clamped in position by .the clamping elements'29 and .theabutment ange 2l.

"When the mounted strip Sis to be removed, it

is merely slid laterally-against .theaction` of the".

spring 24 so as to clear the nturned portion of the flange 21 and may then be moved forwardly free of the unit. l Y

In Fig. 1 there is shown a modified form of glass strip G having an intricate marginal edge G', rather than the rectilinear edge S' formed on strip S. It will be obvious that since the clamping elements are both slidably adjustable longitudi- :nallycf the. structure framezunitsrand also slid- :ably laterallyzthereof, the Y.positions of the clamping elements 29 may easily be adjusted so that V:ithe latter may securely clamp the decorative theirfmarginal-edges G' 1 turalxfunitamay .be imbedded in a wall surface.V

"Fig, 4 shows the manner in which the struc- The reference numeral 32 indicates a door opening, the'latterbeing more clearly shown in Fig. l. The outer longitudinal channel member I I is embedded within the wall 3.9 so that the forward surface of the flange section `lil lies fiush Ywitlithe surface `3"of .the w'all 39. Similarly the sidewall I4 and rabutmentflange 21 'may lie approximately 'flush 'withfthe' surface of the doonopeningY 28,. thereby providing a neat, aesthetically pleasing `A.and lfunctional door frame on which decorativestrips may be mounted.

Having described' my invention, what Il claim and desire to securefby'L'etters Patent, is as `frollows:

1. A structuralv frame unitformountingfaV decorative strip and comprising arst .longitudinal member including a planar section having along one llongitudinal edge arst fiange sectionextending. parallel tov said planar section and spaced therefrom and along thev opposite .longitudinal edge'a second angersection extending parallel to said. planar section and, in av common plane with said .iirst flange section whereby therear surface of a decorative strip maybe slidably mounted on said angesections, a second longitudinal `member having a planar .section 'and ya .flange .element spaced from and parallel thereto, said second Vmember being 'slidable against. the' interior surface of said .first named planarsectionand said fiange element beingslidable againstthevinterior surface of one of. said flange f sections whereby .thesecond member is mounted within the first-:recited longitudinal..member for., free sliding movement laterally. ,thereof, 1 abutment means ,secured to ,and adjacentV .one .longitudinal edge.ofsaidrsterecited member and adaptedto abut against Yone edge of adecorative strip,` a plurality of clamping elements adaptedY to grinthe opposite .edge of. saidY decorative .strip..and.l,at- Y tached to. .said second member.. and I yieldable spring. means biasing said secondmember laterally towardsaid abutmentmeans.

2. .The combination set ,forth in 4claim Land having a longitudinal .decorative glass strip lying against the flange sections of .saidfirst-recited longitudinalmember, saidabutment meansabutting .one longitudinal. edgeof the Vstrip andsaid clamping elements engaging the .oppositelongitudinaledge ofthe stripso as tohold .thelatter in positionon said lla-nge sections.

l 3. A structural vframe unit formonnting adecorative strip and comprisinga longitudinalmember including a planar section having-along .one longitudinal edge a. first flange section extending parallel to said planar sectionandspacedtherefromand alongthe opposite longitudinal `edgea second flange section extendingpaiiallel to .said planar section and in a common plane with said rst .flange section whereby:A theY rear. surfacelof; a

decorative strip may be slidably mounted on said flange sections, a second longitudinal member within said first longitudinal member and having a second planar section slidably bearing against the interior surface of said first-recited planar section and a pair of oppositely-disposed flange sections slidably bearing against the interior surfaces of said flange sections of the first-recited longitudinal member, said second member having a narrower width than said first-recited member and slidable laterally with respect thereto, said members each having side walls along the longitudinal edges of the planar section and secured to the latter and to the respective flange sections, compression spring means between a first side wall of said rst-recited longitudinal member and the side wall adjacent thereto of said second longitudinal member for biasing said second member laterally toward the opposite side wall of said first-recited longitudinal member. an abutment flange secured to said opposite side wall, and a plurality of clamping elements attached to said second member and slidably mounted on the flange section of said first-recited member adjacent said first side wall.

4. A structural frame unit for mounting a decorative strip and comprising an outer channelshaped longitudinal member, an inner longitudinal member within and slidable laterally of said outer member, an abutment flange secured along one edge of said outer member and having an inturned portion parallel to and spaced from said outer member whereby one edge of a decorative strip may be held between said outer member and said inturned portion, a decorative strip edge clamping means attached to said inner member and slidable therewith laterally toward and away from said abutment flange and located at the opposite edge of said outer member. and spring means biasingv said inner member and said clamping means toward said abutment ilange.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4 and f having a decorative glass strip lying against said REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Lumley Dec. 26, 1939 

